PAL Seniors Interclub: Cebu Country Club seizes top spot in Founders class

Cebu Country Club rode high on a strong second day effort to seize the lead in the Founders Division of the seniors’ tournament of the 61st Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub in Negros Occidental.

The Cebuanos now have a two-day total of 265 points on rounds of 130 and 135 in the four-to-play, three-to-count format using the Molave Points System.

Three transplanted Cebuanos counted for CCC yesterday.  Englishman Tony Jackson led the team with 48 points while Japanese players Masaya ‘Happy’ Hishida and Masatsugu Ochiai made 47 and 40 respectively.  The 27 of Ben Dapat did not count.

The teams in the second-ranked category played at the Bacolod Golf Club (Binitin) in the town of Murcia yesterday.

First day leader Orchard dropped to second place with an aggregate of 259 on rounds of 138 and 121 while John Hay is third with 256. 

Wack-Wack is at fourth with 244 followed by Camp Aguinaldo along with Del Monte with 240 apiece.

Mactan Island Golf Club is at 8th spot with 213 points on rounds of 108 and 105.  Those who counted for Mactan yesterday were Felix Villanueva 37, Boy Alegre 36, and Chandram Rama 32.  Alan Tuck’s 30 did not count.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club slipped to a tie for 6th place in the third-ranked Sportswriters Division with a total of 231 along with Veterans after playing the second round also at Binitin.

Alta Vista made 120 points yesterday at the Bacolod Golf Club courtesy of Ben Yu with 46, Bobby Barria with 42, and Rolly Santos with 32.  Lino Dagus, who sprained a shoulder in the back nine made only 29, which did not count.

At the top of the heap in the Sportswriters Division is Phil. Navy with 247 followed by Eagle Ridge with 244, Camp Evangelista with 240 and tied for fourth are Riviera and Bacolod with 236 apiece.

In the Friendship Division, Club Filipino is tied for fifth place with Mt. Malindang with a total of 200 points on rounds of 101 and 99.

At the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (Marapara) in Bacolod City, Julius Neri, Sr. led Club Filipino with 36 points and was ably backed by his brother-in-law Alvin Garcia with 32 and Ed Franco with 31.  Sam Dunque made 17 and did not count.

Mercedes Plantation of Medellin town jumped to 11th spot with 162 points on rounds of 64 and 98.

Skipper Ed Misa and Tito Adad each made 33 points for Mercedes and last to count was Aster Lagura with 32.  The 22 of Tony Teves did not count.

In the premiere championship division, Canlubang slowly pulled away as it increased its lead to 12 points from only 3 after the first day.

Playing at Marapara yesterday, Canlubang has a two-day total of 289 on rounds of 145 and 144.  At second spot is Luisita with 278 (137-141) behind the 52-point performance of Francis Gaston followed by Manila Golf with 273 and Alabang with 263.

Dave Hernandez, a new recruit led Canlubang yesterday with four-over-par 50 points.  Also counting were the 49 of Tony Olives and 45 of Bing Bunyi.

This year’s championship has Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE, Solar Sports and MTV Philippines as platinum sponsors and Action Asia, PACSPORTS, Business Mirror, 105.1 fm Crossover and Royal Caribbean as major supporters.

Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia, RMN, Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik, Patio Pacific Boracay. Callaway Golf, Lufthansa Technik, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Pan Pacific Hotel are also throwing their support.